Kean tells disgruntled Rovers fans to get behind the club and end civil war

Steve Kean has told the Blackburn supporters who have brought civil war to Ewood Park this season: 'If you’re true fans, you’ll get behind us.'

Blackburn return home to play Stoke on Monday after taking four points against the odds from successive trips to Liverpool and Manchester United over Christmas.

Kean suffered vicious abuse during the last home game against Bolton from Blackburn supporters who have staged demonstration marches and sit-in protests this season calling for owners Venky’s to sack the manager.

Feed the Yak: Blackburn striker Yakubu scored a brace

There are even suggestions that some would prefer to see Blackburn lose and suffer relegation from the Premier League if that is what it takes to drive out Kean and the owners.

But having survived in his job longer than anyone predicted, Kean hopes the shock 3-2 win at Old Trafford on New Year’s Eve might be the turning point. Some travelling fans even appeared to return his applause at the final whistle on Saturday.

He called for a show of unity against Stoke today, saying: ‘I wouldn't class anyone who comes to any game wanting to see us lose as a supporter.

'I wouldn't imagine any true supporter would want to see us get relegated.

'Any supporter is surely a supporter of the club and they want to support the club through thick and thin.

'We are in the wrong place in the table. We are not where we want to be but we ask the fans to support us through it.'

Stunned into silence: Grant Hanley scores the winner for Blackburn at Old Trafford

Kean warned that a hostile atmosphere at Ewood Park will only make it harder for his young side to drag the club out of relegation trouble.

Blackburn's starting line-up against Liverpool had an average age of 24 years and 282 days old, their fourth-youngest ever in the Premier League.

'I hope this does change the atmosphere for our home games because we want to climb the table,' added Kean.

'We have got a young side. I have five or six players who are under 25 and if they can feel a negative vibe around the ground it can get to the younger players.

In it together: The Blackburn players celebrate Hanley's goal, and the scoreboard at full time (below)

'Not so much the senior players because they’ve been round the block and can block it out of their mind. But for the young ones, it could affect them.

'So I hope the fans realise we are a little bit fragile and get behind us.’ Yakubu scored twice in Blackburn’s win over United, and the veteran striker believes the result will turn public opinion in his manager’s favour.

Asked if it would change the fans’ perception of Kean, Yakubu said: 'It has to. I hope the fans can give the manager a chance to do what he needs to do.

'Playing at home when we go down it’s “he has to go, he has to go” but today things have really changed. They should give him a break and support the team.'